Friday, April 28, 2006

Iraq - What is Our Contribution

Private Kovco died in Iraq in a circumstance that at this stage is still to be determined.  First reports said he had accidentally shot himself whilst cleaning his gun.  Rumours circulate as a result as to how a well trained soldier shoots himself accidentally and perhaps he committed suicide.  His family had to go public and proclaim that he was happy to be in Iraq and serve his country.  To have a soldiers reputation sullied in the press like that was appalling and should have been stamped on by the government.

Then it transpires that he was not holding the gun when it went off.  So who was holding the gun?  The military say no-one but it is subject to an investigation.  The family understandably want to know the truth.  The military are staying quiet on the matter.

What the hell is going on?  He either shot himself or was shot by someone else.  If he was shot by someone else was it accidental or deliberate?  Was there an argument?  Was there some skylarking with a loaded weapon?  At least say the circumstances and if required say that there will be an inquiry and put the family at ease.

But no matter the truth, the fact has to be said that this is our first casualty in Iraq.  (A soldier was accidentally killed in Afghanistan).  One death and we cock it up and I haven’t even raised the fact that they lost the body in transit and delivered the family the body of a dead American.

One death.

We are portrayed by our media and in the rhetoric from Bin Laden and co as “public enemy #3 behind the US and Britain” in the eyes of Islam.  We are routinely named as the 3rd cog in the wheel of their “Axis of Evil” as their eyes see it.  We worry about being an impending terror target.  We link the activities of Jamaal Islamia (sp?) with al-Qaeda and worry about attacks on our soil.

One death.

Why are we portrayed this way when the extent of our operations in Iraq and previously Afghanistan have resulted in 2 casualties, both accidental.  In comparison, Poland has 50 odd deaths.  Spain had 30 odd.  Japan a similar number.  These deaths were in the main in the course of combat or other action.  And yet, no body is threatening to blow up the local train stations in Warsaw.  However Spain was the target of a horrendous bombing and they withdrew their troops.

Why are we seen as so bad?

Is this because we engage in the propaganda war to such a high extent?  If we had quiet and did our duty without grandstanding to make us look good to George Bush, would we be so worried about terrorism?  Would we be named by Bin Laden on his home videos?

What is the advantage of being big on the rhetoric and propaganda and yet not on the front line so to speak?  I don’t mean to denigrate anyone serving in Iraq and I don’t want to see people killed at all, but what is the point of being in the rear?

 

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